Will Pipes Freeze in Pierce County, GA? 3 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Pierce County
In a normal year Pierce County, GA gets 3 nights at or below 20°F, the point where bare pipes in a garage, attic or outside wall start to freeze. That is more than 12% of US counties.
Risk level: Occasional. The risk season runs December to February, worst in January.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 39 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 3 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | under 1 night |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | none |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 3 nights of risk to under 1 night. A 12 ft heat-tape kit runs $17 to $37; an average burst-pipe repair is about $500.
Month by month
Nights at or below 20°F in a normal year.
First 32°F night is usually around 11/17, last around 03/15. For 20°F: 01/08 to 01/27.
How cold Pierce County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 39°F; the coldest month, January, averages 37°F overnight. 5 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 37°F | 40°F | 45°F | 51°F | 60°F | 69°F | 71°F | 71°F | 66°F | 55°F | 45°F | 39°F |
Pierce County next to its neighbours
Brantley County, GA, 28 km southeast, gets 4 nights below 20°F to Pierce County's 3 nights. Bacon County, GA, 32 km northwest, gets under 1 night.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pierce County, GA | - | 39 nights | 3 nights | 37°F |
| Brantley County, GA | 28 km southeast | 40 nights | 4 nights | 37°F |
| Bacon County, GA | 32 km northwest | 24 nights | under 1 night | 39°F |
| Wayne County, GA | 36 km northeast | 41 nights | 3 nights | 35°F |
| Ware County, GA | 39 km southwest | 34 nights | 2 nights | 39°F |
| Appling County, GA | 44 km north | 36 nights | 3 nights | 39°F |
| Long County, GA | 62 km northeast | 27 nights | 1 night | 39°F |
Pierce County within GA
Pierce County ranks 106 of 159 GA counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Union County, GA at 28 nights, with a 27°F average winter low. The fewest is Glynn County, GA: under 1 night, winter lows near 46°F. At 131 ft, Pierce County sits 289 ft below the state's median county elevation of 420 ft.
What to do here
- Keep a night-of routine: drip, open cabinets, keep the heat at 55F or above.
- Foam-sleeve any pipe in the garage or crawlspace once; it is cheap and lasts years.
Which pipe gets which threshold: the 32, 20, 10 and 0 rule.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Waycross (4 mi NE), GA, 15 km away (close match). A normal year, not tonight's forecast: check the forecast low for the night itself. What a "fair" or "distant" station match means is in the method guide.